Will a Hope Vision 1 be enough?

[Paul_L]

the Magicshine seems a damn fine light but where the heck do you buy it?

evans / wiggle / chain reaction don't stock it. The magicshine web site says out of stock.

Like Jez i'm in need of a decent light to ride the commute on the Leeds Liverpool canal.

 

[Broadside]

I got mine here http://www.brightbikelights.com/ because Magicshine UK were out of stock - their latest delivery has apparently been held up in customs. Brightbikelights delivered in 2 days and they had stock available when I got mine last week.

Or buy it direct from the Deal Extreme website - you may get it in 7-10 days but others have waited for up to 5-6 weeks, so it is cheap through them (£50/60) but service is variable.

 

[ianrauk]

Magicshine is probably a little optomistically rated, but, it will be a lot brighter than the Vision 1.
Mine (Magicshine) will hopefully arrive today so if you can wait a little while, I can do a comparison against the Vision 1's if you want?
FWIW I think a single Hope 1 would be fine for towpaths, it will limit your speed a little but as (I assume) it's all flat, I don't think that will come into it.
The other plus with the Hope is the fantastic customer service and the quality of the light but, it won't be as bright as the Magicshine. Oh, and of course the Hope uses AA's which was another big plus for me.

To put it into perspective, I do a lot of night riding on the MTB and, IMO a single Hope is a little undergunned for that. Two, though, are fine so they are powerful lights considering that we're hooning about in the woods in the pitch dark, hitting at times, 25mph downhill over rough, rooty sections of track.

Yes please squire...!

 

[fossyant]

Magicshine is rated about 600-700, Hope 1 - over 200 I'd say realistically. Two Hope ones are very good in pitch black, even on medium as you have more light spread, but there is the cost...........

Magicshine weren't out when I got my 2 x Hopes, but you really do have to point the Magicshine down...... the Hope you can run at low or medium in traffic, angled down, as soon as you go high/turbo then you get folk reaching to dip mirrors etc....... great for a fast descent and making sure drivers see you, but a 'pig' (for drivers in front) in traffic if you don't turn them down............

Different markets - buy what you thinks suits you best - i.e. batteries, cost, location...etc...etc...... All these 'bright' lights are very good....

I have the rear magicshine on order, as I can shove the battery in my pannier... the light mounted on my rack, unclip rubber bungie, and shove light in pannier and off I go.......

 

[Panter]

If you could do a compare that would be great.

If two hopes is fine for pitch dark forest rides at 25mph then maybe one will be fine for fairly dark towpath rides at 15mph?

Damn thing didn't turn up yesterday, hopefully today...

I do think that one Hope would be more than sufficent for towpath riding, they are very bright.
The only snag with the Hope is that when the batteries expire, the light just goes out. It doesn't dim, there's no warning, it just plunges you into darkness.
As long as you keep on top of your battery charging, then it's no problem but it is something to be aware of.

When I had the single Hope, I had a small Cateye Opticube on the front (actually it stays on all Year round just in case I got caught out) which served as backup just in case the batteries ran out, at least then I'd have enough light to see to change the batteries with.
Also, it's worth remembering that the battery run time is extremely long with the Hope (I forget what it is) but even on full power, providing you're using high capacity rechargeables, it's several Hours.
Mind you, I've always had at least one backup light, just in case of a failure or a crash or somethng that breaks the main light.

If I was looking to buy a light for towpath riding, then I think I'd be looking towards the Hope. I don't think you'd need any more power than that (IMO) unless you're regularly riding in complete darkness at, say, over 15mph or so then it can feel a little underpowered.
The real beauty of the Hope is that it uses AA's so that it's easy to carry spares. And, if the worst came to the worst, you can always pop into a petrol station and grab spares.

Anyway, hopefully the Magicshine will arrive today and I can get some comparison shots up. I'm nightriding Thursday night so I should be able to get some "real World" comparisons then, if not before.

 

[Panter]

Ah, just to add, a chap on a local MTB forum I use did a comparison with the M/S against a Spark light. I'm not familiar with the Spark, but at a quoted 220 lumens, it's the same output as a Vision 1

Link here, it's a few posts down


(Mods, hope it's Ok to link to another forum, but it's a South East MTB specific one so I thought it's be fine)

 

[dellzeqq]

Blimey, Hope Vision 1 = 240 lumens.

Magicshine = 900 lumens!

Is this a rather generous measurement, or is the Magicshine perhaps worth considering over the Hope?
Is it perhaps a little too good to be true?

Magicshine is a little on the heavy side, but is it more than a Hope with batteries? (can only find weight info when unloaded)

it's been measured at 550...

 

[Panter]

it's been measured at 550...

That's interesting to know, sounds a little more realistic. Mind you, that's still well over double the claimed power of a Vision 1.

 

[Jezston]

Ok so I have been giving it some thought.

The Hope Vision 1 is not as powerful, but it is reliable, lighter, and proven.

The Magicshine is more powerful, but there are issues, and I don't 'feel' as good about it as the Hope. Seems to be a little too many caveats (including suitability for use in heavy rain), that and I may be in for a wait in getting one. I've also heard the flashing mode is more of a 'strobe' mode and is likely to piss people off.

I think I'll go for the Hope for now, perhaps ordering a Magicshine later if I need the power.

It also helps that I can get a Hope today!

 

[Norm]

Whatever you put on the bike, get yourself a head-mounted light.

IMO, being able to see where you are looking as well as where the bike is pointing significantly increases both the fun and the safety of riding in the dark, whether on or off road.

 

[cyberknight]

Forget ebay for sourcing a hope 1.

Just had a look out of interest and they are trying to sell them a good £10-20 more than you get get them new off wiggle etc.

I am really tempted by one if i had the money i would seriously look at one.

 

[Origamist]

it's been measured at 550...

Yep. I mentioned this upthread - 900 lumens out the front ain't happening. The Hopes are overrated too, but by nowhere near 40% or so.

Ok so I have been giving it some thought.

The Hope Vision 1 is not as powerful, but it is reliable, lighter, and proven.

The Magicshine is more powerful, but there are issues, and I don't 'feel' as good about it as the Hope. Seems to be a little too many caveats (including suitability for use in heavy rain), that and I may be in for a wait in getting one. I've also heard the flashing mode is more of a 'strobe' mode and is likely to piss people off.

I think I'll go for the Hope for now, perhaps ordering a Magicshine later if I need the power.

It also helps that I can get a Hope today!

If you can hold on, I suspect Hope will be releasing new models in the next few months with more powerful emitters (Exposure have already done so).

My set-up: 650 lumens OTF:

http://www.cyclechat...post__p__853805

The reflectors are designed to throw the beam a couple of hundred metres - perfect for road riding. Cost £110.

Whatever you put on the bike, get yourself a head-mounted light.

IMO, being able to see where you are looking as well as where the bike is pointing significantly increases both the fun and the safety of riding in the dark, whether on or off road.

Good advice.

 

[Panter]

I fully agree off-road, but on-road I find a head mounted light is just too dazzling for oncoming traffic.

Also, if your offroad route isn't particularly twisty or demanding, then a headlight is a little overkill.

I currently use two Hope Vison 1's on the bars both for on-road and off but I've ordered a Magicshine for off-road stuff to compliment the Hopes as a headlight is a huge benefit on tight, twisty singletrack. It also enables you to see low, overhanging branches

All just my opinion of course

 

[Origamist]

I fully agree off-road, but on-road I find a head mounted light is just too dazzling for oncoming traffic.

Turn it to a lower power setting!

 

[Panter]

Turn it to a lower power setting!

Ai, but even on low power, if you look directly at a driver, it's still dazzling.


As I say, all just my opinion, other things work for other folk